Hydrologic Effects of the 2004 Hurricane Season in Northwest Florida

Home , Hurricane Charley, Hurricane Frances, Hurricane Georges, Hurricane Ivan, Hurricane Jeanne, Waccasassa River

By Richard Jay Verdi

Open-File Report 2005-1277

U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Department of the Interior Gale A. Norton, Secretary U.S. Geological Survey P. Patrick Leahy, Acting Director

U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2005

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Suggested citation: Verdi, R.J., 2005, Hydrologic Effects of the 2004 Hurricane Season in Northwest Florida: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2005-1277, 18 p. iii

Contents

Abstract...... 1 Introduction...... 1 Relevance and Benefits...... 2 Acknowledgments...... 2 Methods...... 2 Data Collection and Presentation...... 2 Storm Information...... 4 Tropical Storm Bonnie...... 4 Hurricane Charley...... 4 Hurricane Frances...... 4 Hurricane Ivan...... 6 Hurricane Jeanne...... 8 Precipitation...... 8 Storm Surge...... 11 River Discharges and River Levels...... 11 Instantaneous Peak Discharges and River Levels...... 11 Combined September and October Monthly Mean Discharges...... 15 Summary...... 17 References Cited...... 17

Figures

1-2. Maps showing: 1. Tracks of tropical storm systems in Florida in 2004...... 1 2. Geographic and hydrologic features and gage locations in northwest Florida...... 3 3. Satellite image of Hurricane Frances taken on September 4, 2004...... 4 4-5. Photographs showing: 4. Ichetucknee River at U.S. Hwy 27...... 5 5. House on State Road 47 near Rose Sink (Columbia County), September 11, 2004...... 5 6. Satellite image of Hurricane Ivan taken on September 15, 2004...... 6 7-10. Photographs showing: 7. Interstate 10 (I-10) bridge over Escambia Bay...... 6 8. Semi truck hanging off a broken section of the I-10 bridge, Escambia Bay...... 6 9. High water flooded structures near Blackwater River in Milton...... 7 10. Gazebo near the Blackwater River in Milton...... 7 11. Satellite image of Hurricane Jeanne image taken on September 25, 2004...... 8 12. Photos of house on South Country Club Road in the southeast portion of Lake City situated in a hollow below the L.P. Hill Dam near Alligator Lake (September 11, 2004); and post-Hurricane Jeanne photograph...... 12 iv

13-15. River level hydrographs of: 13. Waccasassa River near Gulf Hammock, Fla.; Suwannee River above Gopher River near Suwannee, Fla.; and Aucilla River near mouth near Nutall Rise, Fla., showing storm surge and flood peak from Hurricane Frances...... 12 14. Yellow River near Milton, Fla.; Escambia River near Molino, Fla.; and Escambia River near Gonzalez, Fla., showing storm surge and flood peak from Hurricane Ivan...... 12 15. Waccasassa River near Gulf Hammock, Fla.; Suwannee River above Gopher River near Suwannee, Fla.; and Aucilla River near mouth near Nutall Rise, Fla., showing storm surge and flood peak from Hurricane Jeanne...... 13 16. Discharge hydrograph of the Suwannee River at White Springs, Fla.; Suwannee River at Ellaville, Fla.; and Suwannee River at Branford, Fla., showing increased discharge due to rainfall from Tropical Storm Bonnie, and Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne...... 13

Tables

1. Complete list of sites for this report...... 2 2. Top ten most costly hurricanes...... 9 3. Rainfall totals, Tropical Storm Bonnie (August 12-13, 2004)...... 9 4. Rainfall totals, Hurricane Frances (September 4-8, 2004)...... 10 5. Rainfall totals, Hurricane Ivan (September 15-17, 2004)...... 11 6. Rainfall totals, Hurricane Jeanne (September 25-27, 2004)...... 11 7. Peak discharges and river levels at selected sites in northwest Florida produced by Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne...... 14 8. Peak discharges and river levels at selected sites in northwest Florida produced by Hurricane Ivan...... 15 9. Relation of period-of-record September and October combined monthly mean discharge to combined mean discharge for September and October 2004, Big Bend...... 16 10. Relation of period-of-record September and October combined monthly mean discharge to combined mean discharge for September and October 2004, western panhandle...... 16

Conversion Factors

Multiply By To obtain inch (in.) 2.54 centimeter foot (ft) 0.3048 meter mile (mi) 1.609 kilometer mile per hour (mi/h) 1.852 kilometer per hour cubic foot per second (ft3/s) 0.02832 cubic meter per second

Abbreviations & Datum mbar millibar MODIS Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer NASA National Aeronautics and Space Administration NWS National Weather Service USGS U.S. Geological Survey

Vertical coordinate information is referenced to the National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929 (NGVD 1929); horizontal coordinate information is referenced to the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD83).

Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale

Hurricane Category (miles per hour) One 74-95 Two 96-110 Three 111-130 Four 131-155 Five >155 vi Hydrologic Effects of the 2004 Hurricane Season in Northwest Florida

By Richard Jay Verdi

Abstract Introduction

During the 2004 hurricane season, five tropical storm During August and September 2004, northwest Florida systems: Tropical Storm Bonnie, and Hurricanes Charley, experienced impacts from five tropical storm systems: Tropical Frances, Ivan, and Jeanne caused significant amounts of Storm Bonnie, and Hurricanes Charley, Frances, Ivan, and rainfall, storm surge, flooding, and hurricane or tropical Jeanne. Tropical Storm Bonnie produced 1.5-2.5 in. of rainfall storm-force winds in northwest Florida. The 2004 hurricane across several watersheds in the eastern panhandle. Hurricane season was one of the most devastating in recorded history for Charley’s landfall in south Florida and its northeastern storm the State of Florida, resulting in billions of dollars in damage track across central Florida had a negligible effect in northwest and Federal aid. This report focuses on northwest Florida and Florida. However, Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne produced provides an overview of each storm system and the associated heavy rainfall, storm surge, and flooding in the Suwannee and hydrologic effects in the area. Waccasassa River watersheds. Accumulated rainfall from Tropical Storm Bonnie

88° 87° 86° 85° 84° 83° 82° 81° 80° and Hurricanes Frances ALABAMA 31° and Jeanne ranged from GEORGIA 15 to 18 in. in the Suwan-

MISSISSIPPI nee and Waccasassa River watersheds. Hurricane Gulf Shores A 30° T Ivan primarily affected

September 27, 2004 L

A the basins in the western-

N September 16, 2004 T most panhandle with high I C winds and the associated

29° EXPLANATION ugust 12, 2004 O storm surge (fig. 1). A C TROPICAL TROPICAL STORM E DEPRESSION STORM HURRICANE NAME A N Bonnie Charley Frances September 6, 2004 28° Ivan Jeanne ugust 14, 2004 A DIRECTION OF STORM TRAVEL APPROXIMATE LOCATION−At September 22, 2004 12:01 AM of date shown. G U LF 27° 90° 85° 80° 75° 70° 40° Track of hurricane Ivan Figure 1. Tracks of tropical September 12 - 23, 2004 O F

35° storm systems in Florida in

M E XC I O 2004.

26° 30°

25°

0 200 MILES

25° 20°

0 25 50 75 100 MILES September 22, 2004 0 25 50 75 100 KILOMETERS 2 Hydrologic Effects of the 2004 Hurricane Season in Northwest Florida

Relevance and Benefits Table 1. Complete list of sites for this report.

The prevention and mitigation of flooding and associated Site number Station Station property losses are a concern of local, State, and Federal (fig. 2) number agencies. The purpose of this report is to: (1) present an 1 02313700 Waccasassa River near Gulf Hammock overview of the hydrologic data collected during the 2004 2 02315500 Suwannee River at White Springs hurricane season, and (2) assist engineers, scientists, emer- 3 02319000 Withlacoochee River near Pinetta gency management operators and regulators, and the general 4 02319394 Withlacoochee River at Lee public in understanding the hydrologic effects of the 2004 5 02319500 Suwannee River at Ellaville hurricane season in northwest Florida as well as compare these 2004 events to historical storm events. 6 02319800 Suwannee River at Dowling Park 7 02320000 Suwannee River at Luraville Acknowledgments 8 02320500 Suwannee River at Branford 9 02321000 New River near Lake Butler The author would like to acknowledge the contributions of 10 02321500 Santa Fe River at Worthington Springs the following U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) personnel: Jim 11 02322049 Bad Dog Run near Alachua Tomberlin, Ron Spencer, Twila Wilson, Teresa Embry, Trey 12 02322500 Santa Fe River near Fort White Grubbs, Richard Kane, and Stewart Tomlinson. Jim and Ron 13 02322800 Santa Fe River at Hildreth were instrumental in formatting and arranging the graphics to 14 02323000 Suwannee River near Bell make them suitable for printing this report. Twila improved the 15 02323500 Suwannee River near Wilcox quality of this report with her editorial review. Layout design 16 02324000 Steinhatchee River near Cross City was performed by Teresa Embry. Colleague reviews by Trey, 17 02324400 Fenholloway River near Foley Richard, and Stewart contributed to the scientific merit of this 18 02326000 Econfina River near Perry report. The author also wishes to acknowledge Don Goin and 19 02329000 Ochlockonee River near Havana Mark Stephens at the USGS in Tallahassee for making extra 20 02330000 Ochlockonee River near Bloxham discharge measurements over a period of several days at the 21 02358789 Chipola River at Marianna Waccasassa River during the floods. 22 02359000 Chipola River near Altha Methods 23 02365200 Choctawhatchee River near Pittman 24 02366500 Choctawhatchee River near Bruce Data Collection and Presentation 25 02368000 Yellow River at Milligan 26 02369000 Shoal River near Crestview The USGS, in cooperation with Federal, State, county 27 02369600 Yellow River near Milton and local agencies, operates a network of 77 continuous- 28 02370000 Blackwater River near Baker record streamflow-gaging stations in northwest Florida. This region, also referred to as the panhandle, is defined as lying 29 02370500 Big Coldwater Creek near Milton between the Waccasassa River watershed in Levy and 30 02375500 Escambia River near Century Gilchrist Counties on the east to the Alabama-Florida State 31 02376115 Elevenmile Creek near Pensacola line on the west. Several parameters are collected at these 32 02376500 Perdido River at Barrineau Park gages, including some or all of the following: (1) river level, 33 NWS Bell 4NW (2) velocity, (3) temperature, (4) salinity, (5) specific con- 34 NWS Cross City 2WNW ductance, and (6) precipitation. Data are recorded at 60-, 35 NWS Lake Butler 30-, 15-, or 10-minute intervals. Fifty-seven of these gages 36 NWS Lake City 2E are equipped with real-time satellite telemetry and transmit 37 NWS Live Oak at intervals of 1 to 4 hours. During critical events, such as 38 NWS Mayo floods, data are transmitted as often as the recording interval 39 NWS Starke of the data. These data are essential for flood monitoring, 40 NWS Usher Tower emergency response, and dam and reservoir-system opera- 41 NWS White Springs 7N tion. In September and October 2004, USGS field crews made 42 NWS Bristol 2S discharge measurements during the floods at several gages to 43 NWS Clarksville 2N verify ratings after a prolonged period of drought. These data 44 NWS De Funiak Springs 2W contribute to the understanding of flood behavior and flood mitigation efforts. Data presented in this report were collected 45 NWS Marianna 7NE from 32 USGS continuous-record streamflow-gaging stations 46 NWS New Hope and 17 National Weather Service (NWS) weather gages 47 NWS Niceville (table 1 and fig. 2). The term water year refers to the time 48 NWS Panama City 5N period between October 1 and September 30. 49 NWS Pensacola Regional AP Methods

Western Panhandle

ALABAM A 30 23 28 Molino 25 45 29 24 GEORGIA 32 44 21 26 Gonzalez 47 31 46 27 22 19 49 42

43 20 Tallahassee EXPLANATION Gulf of Me 48 27 STREAM GAGING xico STATION−Location and site number. NATIONAL WEATHER 49 SERVICE STATION−Location LOCATION and site number. Apalachicola MAP 0 20 40 60 MILES St. Vincent St. George Island Island 0 20 40 60 KILOMETERS

Big Bend

GEORGIA 3

Suwan 4 ne e R 5 iv er 41

2 6 37 18 36 Su wa nn 17 7 ee R 38 i 35 ve 9 r 39 8 13 10 S Gulf of Me a n 12 t a r 16 Fe Rive 11 xico 14 33

15 34 LOCATION EXPLANATION r e MAP v STREAM GAGING i 16 R STATION Location and − a 40 s site number. s

a NATIONAL WEATHER c c Gulf 34 a SERVICE STATION−Location 0 10 20 MILES W Hammock and site number. 1 0 10 20 KILOMETERS

Figure 2. Geographic and hydrologic features and gage locations in northwest Florida (western panhandle and Big Bend). 4 Hydrologic Effects of the 2004 Hurricane Season in Northwest Florida

Rainfall data presented in this document are from USGS status as it slowly moved overland across central Florida, and the NWS rain gages. USGS rain gages are calibrated exiting into the Gulf of Mexico near New Port Richey (fig. 1). periodically and are cleaned of debris on scheduled field Frances made its second Florida landfall near the mouth of the trips, usually about once every 6 weeks. USGS rainfall data Aucilla River in Jefferson County as a tropical storm with sus- at some sites could be subject to error because of hurricane- tained wind speeds estimated at 58 mi/h and a barometric pres- force winds, which have the potential to shake the tipping sure of 982 mbar. After Frances’ second Florida landfall, the mechanism in the rain gages. This could cause extra tips to be storm moved northwestward over Tallahassee and eventually recorded erroneously. into Georgia. Hurricane Frances was responsible for 5 direct and 32 indirect deaths in Florida (National Weather Service, 2004c). The increased discharge and abundant rainfall from Storm Information this slow moving storm caused flooding and overland flooding in the Suwannee River and Waccasassa River watersheds Tropical Storm Bonnie (figs. 4-5).

The center of Tropical Storm Bonnie made landfall just south of Apalachicola near St. Vincent and St. George Islands (fig. 1) as a weak tropical storm on the afternoon of August 12 with sustained wind speeds of about 46 mi/h and a barometric pressure of 1,001 mbar. Quickly weakening to a tropical depression, Bonnie moved northeast across the “Big Bend” and through the Suwannee River watershed before moving into southern Georgia (National Weather Service, 2004a). Hydrologic and wind-force impacts from Bonnie were relatively minor; no deaths in Florida were reported.

Hurricane Charley

The center of Hurricane Charley made landfall on the southwest coast of Florida just north of Captiva Island west of Punta Gorda (fig. 1) on the evening of August 13, as a category four hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale with sustained wind speeds estimated at 150 mi/h and a barometric pressure of 941 mbar. Charley sped across the peninsula on a northeastward track, exiting into the Atlantic Ocean near Daytona Beach as a weak category one hurricane around 11:30 PM local time on August 13. Hurricane Charley was responsible for 9 direct and 20 indirect deaths in Florida (National Weather Service, 2004b). Because of its southwest Florida landfall and northeastward track, the effects of Charley’s hydrologic and hurricane-force wind impacts in northwest Florida were negligible. Hurricane Charley is documented as the second costliest hurricane to strike the Figure 3. Hurricane Frances image taken on September 4, United States, following Hurricane Andrew in 1992 (Insurance 2004, by Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradio- Journal, 2004). meter (MODIS) on NASA’s Terra satellite. Image courtesy of NASA’s Earth observatory website: http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/ Hurricane Frances

The center of Hurricane Frances (fig. 3) made landfall on the east coast of Florida on the southern end of Hutchinson Island east of Fort Pierce (fig. 1) on the morning of September 5, as a category two hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale with sustained wind speeds estimated at 104 mi/h and a barometric pressure of 960 mbar. The storm weakened to tropical storm Storm Information

Figure 4. Ichetucknee River at U.S. Hwy 27 looking upstream (north to northwest), September 18, 2004 (river level: 21.89 ft above NGVD 1929; discharge: 241 ft3/s). Image courtesy of Joel Lanier of the National Weather Service.

Figure 5. House on State Road 47 near Rose Sink (Columbia County), September 11, 2004. Note the high water mark on the house. Image courtesy of Al Sandrik of the National Weather Service. 6 Hydrologic Effects of the 2004 Hurricane Season in Northwest Florida

Hurricane Ivan border. Hurricane Ivan was responsible for 14 direct deaths The center of Hurricane Ivan (fig. 6) made landfall during in Florida (National Weather Service, 2004d). Sections of the early morning hours of September 16, near Gulf Shores, the Interstate 10 bridge across Escambia Bay were torn apart Alabama (fig. 1) as a strong category three hurricane on the and collapsed into the bay because of the high winds and Saffir-Simpson scale with sustained wind speeds estimated associated storm surge (figs. 7 and 8). Hurricane Ivan caused at 121 mi/h and a barometric pressure of 946 mbar. The significant damage along the coast near Pensacola, including strongest winds occurred near the Alabama-Florida Panhandle overland flooding in some watersheds (figs. 9 and 10).

Figure 6. Hurricane Ivan image taken on September 15, 2004, by MODIS on NASA’s Aqua satellite. Image courtesy of NASA’s Earth observatory website: http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/

Hurricane Jeanne Precipitation

Hurricane Jeanne followed a similar path as Hurricane Significant widespread rainfall generated from some Frances (fig. 11), with the center making landfall on the east of the storms resulted in high water levels on many rivers coast of Florida on the southern end of Hutchinson Island east and streams in northwest Florida. Tropical Storm Bon- of Fort Pierce (fig. 1) on the morning of September 26. At the nie produced an average of 1.5-2.5 in. of rainfall in several time of landfall, Jeanne was a category three hurricane on the watersheds throughout the central to eastern panhandle from Saffir-Simpson scale with sustained wind speeds estimated August 12-13, 2004. USGS and NWS gages recorded rainfall at 121 mi/h and a barometric pressure of 950 mbar. Jeanne amounts ranging from 0.46 in. at Chipola River at Marianna to weakened to tropical storm status as it moved across the 2.46 in. at Lake City 2E (table 3). Florida Peninsula just north of Tampa before turning north- Hurricane Frances produced an average of 8-9 in. of rain westward towards Georgia. As the storm moved through the over the Suwannee River and Waccasassa River watersheds eastern panhandle, it produced significant rainfall over the from September 4-8, 2004. Rainfall recorded by USGS and Suwannee River and Waccasassa River watersheds, adding NWS gages ranged from 5.40 in. at Withlacoochee River at to the high water produced just 3 weeks earlier by Hurricane Lee to 13.84 in. at Lake Butler (table 4). USGS field crews Frances. Hurricane Jeanne was responsible for three direct measuring discharge at Waccasassa River at U.S. Hwy. 19 deaths in Florida (National Weather Service, 2004e). received a report from local residents of an unofficial total of After the end of the 2004 hurricane season, Hurricanes 31-33 in. of rain over a 3-day period during Hurricane Charley, Frances, Ivan, and Jeanne caused a combined esti- Frances. It is important to note that on September 10, 2004, mate of $21-23 billion in damage to public and private proper- there was a stationary front situated across south Georgia ties (Insurance Journal, 2004; St. Petersburg Times, 2005) and which produced 7.10 in. of rainfall at Lake City (NWS, site each ranked as one of the Top 10 costliest hurricanes in history No. 36, fig. 2) and 3.52 in. at Starke (NWS, site No. 39, fig. 2) to strike the United States (table 2) (Insurance Journal, 2004). (M. Mcallister, NWS, written commun., March 17, 2005). This additional rainfall added to the localized flooding in the area (fig. 12). Hurricane Ivan generated an average of 8-9 in. of rain in the Chipola, Choctawhatchee, Shoal, Blackwater, Perdido, Escambia, and Yellow River Basins in the western panhandle. Rainfall recorded by USGS and NWS gages ranged from 3.49 in. at Chipola River near Altha to 25.44 in. at Choctawhatchee River near Bruce (table 5). Hurricane Jeanne produced an average of 6-7 in. of rain, again primarily in the Suwannee River and Waccasassa River watersheds. The additional rainfall subsequently increased the river levels and discharge in these watersheds. Rainfall recorded by USGS and NWS gages ranged from 0.79 in. at Cross City 2WNW to 10.88 in. at Live Oak (table 6).

Figure 11. Hurricane Jeanne image taken on September 25, 2004, by MODIS on NASA’s Terra satellite. Image courtesy of NASA’s Earth observatory website: http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/ Precipitation 9

Table 2. Top ten most costly hurricanes.

[Table compiled by data from the National Weather Service and Insurance Journal, 2004. Figures represented by $ billions, as of Sept. 30, 2004]

Cost Rank Year Hurricane Category Areas Impacted ($ billions) 1 1992 Andrew 5 Florida, Louisiana 20.3 2 2004 Charley 4 Florida and Mid-Atlantic U.S. 6.8 3 1989 Hugo 4 Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern U.S. 6.2 4 2004 Jeanne 3 Florida, Southeastern, and Mid-Atlantic U.S. 5.0-7.0 5 2004 Frances 2 Florida and East Coast of the U.S. 4.4 6 2004 Ivan 3 Northwestern Florida, Alabama, Southeastern 4.0-5.0 and Mid-Atlantic U.S. 7 1998 Georges 2 Florida Keys, Mississippi, Alabama 3.3

8 1995 Opal 3 Northwestern Florida, Alabama 2.5 9 1999 Floyd 2 Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern U.S. 2.2 10 1992 Iniki Unknown Kaua’i, Hawaii 2.1

Table 3. Rainfall totals, Tropical Storm Bonnie (Aug. 12-13, 2004).

Site Rainfall Station number Precipitation station total number (fig. 2) (inches)

4 02319394 Withlacoochee River at Lee 2.15 6 02319800 Suwannee River at Dowling Park 2.39 7 02320000 Suwannee River at Luraville 1.99 8 02320500 Suwannee River at Branford 2.21 11 02322049 Bad Dog Run near Alachua 1.79 13 02322800 Santa Fe River at Hildreth 2.07 19 02329000 Ochlockonee River near Havana 1.60 20 02330000 Ochlockonee River near Bloxham 1.08 21 02358789 Chipola River at Marianna 0.46 22 02359000 Chipola River near Altha 1.04 33 NWS Bell 4NW 1.60 34 NWS Cross City 2WNW 1.77 35 NWS Lake Butler 0.66 36 NWS Lake City 2E 2.46 37 NWS Live Oak 2.22 38 NWS Mayo 1.88 39 NWS Starke 1.28 40 NWS Usher Tower 2.32 41 NWS White Springs 7N 1.38 10 Hydrologic Effects of the 2004 Hurricane Season in Northwest Florida

Table 4. Rainfall totals, Hurricane Frances (Sept. 4-8, 2004).

Site Station Rainfall total number Precipitation station number (inches) (fig. 2) 4 02319394 Withlacoochee River at Lee 5.40 6 02319800 Suwannee River at Dowling Park 5.65 8 02320500 Suwannee River at Branford 6.52 11 02322049 Bad Dog Run near Alachua 13.41 13 02322800 Santa Fe River at Hildreth 7.71 33 NWS Bell 4NW 7.96 34 NWS Cross City 2WNW 6.55 35 NWS Lake Butler 13.84 36 NWS Lake City 2E 10.52 37 NWS Live Oak 6.34 38 NWS Mayo 7.91 39 NWS Starke 9.97 40 NWS Usher Tower 12.30 41 NWS White Springs 7N 9.11

Figure 12. (upper photo) House on South Country Club Road in the southeast portion of Lake City situated in a hollow below the L.P. Hill Dam near Alligator Lake (September 11, 2004). The Dam overflowed as a result of the heavy rainfall associated with Hurricane Fran- ces and the stationary front over Georgia. Additional rainfall associated with Hurricane Jeanne subsequently increased the water depth. The house remained flooded for more than 30 days.

(lower photo) Post-Hurricane Jeanne photograph (date unknown). (A. Sandrik, NWS, written commun., July 21, 2005.)

Photos courtesy of Al Sandrik. River Discharges and River Levels 11

Table 5. Rainfall totals, Hurricane Ivan (Sept. 15-17, 2004). Table 6. Rainfall totals, Hurricane Jeanne (Sept. 25-27, 2004).

Site Site Rainfall Rainfall num- Station num- Station Precipitation station total Precipitation station total ber number ber number (inches) (inches) (fig. 2) (fig. 2) 22 02359000 Chipola River near Altha 3.49* 4 02319394 Withlacoochee River at Lee 5.11 23 02365200 Choctawhatchee River near Pittman 5.45* 6 02319800 Suwannee River at Dowling Park 4.33 24 02366500 Choctawhatchee River near Bruce 25.44* 8 02320500 Suwannee River at Branford 7.53 25 02368000 Yellow River at Milligan 11.37* 11 02322049 Bad Dog Run near Alachua 7.17 26 02369000 Shoal River near Crestview 7.68* 13 02322800 Santa Fe River at Hildreth 5.46 27 02369600 Yellow River near Milton 19.76* 33 NWS Bell 4NW 6.30 28 02370000 Blackwater River near Baker 10.41* 34 NWS Cross City 2WNW 0.79 29 02370500 Big Coldwater Creek near Milton 5.67* 35 NWS Lake Butler 6.00 30 02375500 Escambia River near Century 8.31* 36 NWS Lake City 2E 6.43 42 NWS Bristol 2S 7.00 37 NWS Live Oak 10.88 43 NWS Clarksville 2N 5.62 38 NWS Mayo 7.60 44 NWS De Funiak Springs 2W 5.50 39 NWS Starke 5.43 45 NWS Marianna 7NE 5.59 40 NWS Usher Tower 6.00 46 NWS New Hope 5.85 41 NWS White Springs 7N 6.40 47 NWS Niceville 8.00 48 NWS Panama City 5N 6.31 River Discharges and River Levels 49 NWS Pensacola Regional AP 5.42 *Rainfall data could be subject to error because of tropical storm- or hurricane-force winds. Instantaneous Peak Discharges and River Levels Storm Surge The greatest increase in discharge was associated Storm surges from three tropical storm systems were with Hurricane Frances, which produced the most rainfall. detected in river level data collected at several stream gages Significant overland flooding occurred in the Santa Fe and in northwest Florida. Storm surge is defined as an event that middle Suwannee River subbasins from Hurricane Jeanne. occurs when the winds and forward motion associated with At the Suwannee River at Branford gage (fig. 16), the small a tropical storm system pile water up in front of the storm rise before the larger rise may be due to this localized over- system as it moves toward the shore (NOAA, undated). For land runoff. The small rise in August (fig. 16) is attributed to the purpose of this report, storm surge is reported as the dif- the impacts of Tropical Storm Bonnie. ference between the maximum river level and the approximate maximum river level of the normal tidal cycle at the time of Instantaneous peak is defined as a local maximum the storm landfall. value in the continuous time series of streamflow or river During Hurricane Frances, the maximum storm surge level, preceded by a period of increasing values and followed recorded was about 8 ft at Waccasassa River near Gulf by a period of decreasing values (U.S. Geological Survey, Hammock (fig. 13). Due to the high winds associated with 2004). Peaks from rainfall associated with Tropical Storm Hurricane Frances, the water level went below the river level Bonnie, and Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne were observed in sensor, which shows as a flat line in the hydrograph at the the discharge and river level hydrographs for several gages in USGS gage near Nutall Rise near the mouth of the Aucilla the Waccasassa, Suwannee, and Steinhatchee River water- River (fig. 13). This is near where Hurricane Frances made sheds. None of the recorded peaks were the highest for the its second Florida landfall. Hurricane Ivan produced the great- period of record of the gage (table 7). est observed storm surge on a river in northwest Florida, with Flooding was most significant at the Waccasassa River about a 9-ft rise at the Escambia River near Gonzalez, and a near Gulf Hammock gage, where peak discharge estimated at 6-ft surge upstream near Molino (fig. 14). The Waccasassa 8,330 ft3/s occurred, the second highest peak for the period of River near Gulf Hammock gage recorded an approximate 6-ft record (1963-present). Based on period-of-record peak time storm surge from Hurricane Jeanne (fig. 15). series data, the recurrence interval of this event was greater 12 Hydrologic Effects of the 2004 Hurricane Season in Northwest Florida

18 WACCASASSA RIVER 16

12 Figure 13. River level hydrograph of Waccasassa River 10 near Gulf Hammock, Fla.; Suwannee River above Gopher 8 AUCILLA RIVER River near Suwannee, Fla.; and Aucilla River near mouth 6 near Nutall Rise, Fla., showing

RIVER LEVEL, IN FEET storm surge and flood peak 4 from Hurricane Frances. (River SUWANNEE RIVER level reported in feet above 2 gage datum. Waccasassa River: 10.51 ft below NGVD 0 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 1929; Suwannee River: 2.10 ft below NGVD 1929; Aucilla River: SEPTEMBER, 2004 datum undetermined.)

10 MOLINO

MILTON 6

4 GONZALEZ

2 Figure 14. River level hydro- 0 graph of Yellow River near RIVER LEVEL, IN FEET ABOVE NGVD 1929 Milton, Fla.; Escambia River near Molino, Fla.; and Escambia River -2 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 near Gonzalez, Fla., showing storm surge and flood peak from SEPTEMBER, 2004 Hurricane Ivan. River Discharges and River Levels 13

14 WACCASASSA RIVER

12 Figure 15. River level hydrograph of Waccasassa River 10 near Gulf Hammock, Fla.; Suwannee River above Gopher 8 River near Suwannee, Fla.; and AUCILLA RIVER Aucilla River near mouth near 6 Nutall Rise, Fla., showing storm surge and flood peak from RIVER LEVEL, IN FEET 4 Hurricane Jeanne. (River level SUWANNEE RIVER reported in feet above gage 2 datum. Waccasassa River: 10.51 ft below NGVD 1929; Suwannee River: 2.10 ft below 0 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 NGVD 1929; Aucilla River: datum undetermined.) SEPTEMBER, 2004

35,000

30,000

BONNIE

JEANNE

25,000 FRANCES ELLAVILLE 20,000

15,000

Figure 16. Discharge hydro- Y DISCHARGE, IN CFS 10,000 graph of the Suwannee 5,000 BRANFORD River at White Springs, Fla.; HOURL Suwannee River at Ellaville, Fla.; and Suwannee River 0 WHITE SPRINGS at Branford, Fla., showing increased discharge due to -5,000 rainfall from Tropical Storm 1 5 10 15 20 25 30 5 10 15 20 25 30 5 10 15 20 25 30 Bonnie, and Hurricanes AUGUST SEPTEMBER OCTOBER Frances and Jeanne. 2004 14 Hydrologic Effects of the 2004 Hurricane Season in Northwest Florida

>25 >25 >100 >100 >100 >100 >100 >100 >100 >100 >100 interval (years)* Recurrence /s) 3 (ft 12,200 38,100 79,400 95,300 83,900 11,400 20,000 17,000 82,300 84,700 17,600 Magnitude Date Largest historical peak discharge 9/12/1964 4/10/1973 4/5/1948 4/7/1948 4/11/1948 9/12/1964 9/13/1964 9/16/1964 4/13/1948 4/14/1948 9/13/1964 <5 >5 >5 <5 <5 >5 <5 >25 >10 >10 >10 interval (years)* Recurrence 5.42** 84.03 77.43 56.88 30.42 95.47 64.80 30.45 21.87 13.87*** 23.03 Peak river NGVD 1929) level (feet above /s, cubic feet per second; >, greater than; <, less --, not determined] 3 /s) 3 Peak 8,330 5,330 7,900 9,430 3,500 (ft 17,600 17,900 33,100 32,700 32,600 37,100 discharge Peak discharge, September 1-October 15, 2004 Date 9/06/2004** 9/08/2004 10/3/2004 10/4/2004 10/8/2004 10/12/2004 9/10/2004 9/10/2004 9/12/2004 10/12/2004 10/15/2004*** 10/14/2004 9/30/2004 2004 Period of 1963-1978, 1980-1984, 1984-1992, 1998-2004 1906-1908, 1927-2004 1931-2004 1927-2004 1931-2004 1950-1971, 1990-2004 1931-2004 1927-1930, 1932-2004 1932-1956, 2000-2004 1930-1931, 1941-2004 1950-2004 record through Streamflow-gaging station Waccasassa River near Gulf Hammock River Waccasassa Suwannee River at White Springs River Suwannee Withlacoochee River near Pinetta River Withlacoochee Suwannee River at Ellaville River Suwannee Suwannee River at Branford River Suwannee New River near Lake Butler near Lake River New Santa Fe River at Worthington Springs at Worthington Santa Fe River Santa Fe River near Fort White near Fort Santa Fe River Suwannee River near Bell River Suwannee Suwannee River near Wilcox River Suwannee Steinhatchee River near Cross City Steinhatchee River Station number 02313700 02315500 02319000 02319500 02320500 02321000 02321500 02322500 02323000 02323500 02324000

Peak discharges and river levels at selected sites in northwest Florida produced by Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne. Peak discharges and river levels at selected sites in northwest Florida produced by

1 2 3 5 8 9 10 12 14 15 16 Site (fig. 2) number Table 7. Table Florida; river level, in feet, above NGVD 1929; ft [Data compiled from data on file at the U.S. Geological Survey in Tallahassee, *Computed based on period-of-record peaks to water year 2004. **Data computed using index-velocity method. Peak river level recorded 2 days earlier than peak discharge. ***Data computed using index-velocity method. Peak river level recorded 1 day later than peak discharge. River Discharges and River Levels 15

than 25 years. The highest peak discharge and

river level for the period of record was 12,200 ft3/s and 6.45 feet above NGVD 1929, respec- -- -- >25 >25 >50 tively, reported on September 12, 1964 (greater interval >100 >100 (years)*

Recurrence than 100-year recurrence interval), a result of heavy rainfall associated with Hurricane Dora (Bridges and Franklin, 1991) (table 7). /s)

3 The 1964 flood also affected the Santa Fe and (ft 82,800 59,100 26,500 36,900 12,800 44,000 Steinhatchee Rivers (greater than 25-year to 117,000 Magnitude greater than 100-year recurrence intervals) and inundated the town of Live Oak with 4-5 ft of

Largest historical peak discharge water (Bridges and Franklin, 1991) (table 7). Date The recurrence intervals of the peak 09/30/98 09/30/98 09/29/98 03/17/90 09/30/98 09/28/98 09/29/98 discharges observed during Tropical Storm Bonnie, and Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne -- -- <5 >5 <5 <5 ranged from less than 5 to greater than 25 <10 interval (years)* years. These events may be considered Recurrence

relatively minor when compared to historical floods, such as the 1948 flood that impacted Florida from the middle of the Florida Pan- 56.31 59.40 75.76 24.85 47.19 24.49 42.53 handle to the Atlantic Coast. This flood /s, cubic feet per second; >, greater than; <, less --, not determined] (feet above 3 NGVD 1929) resulted from 9-10 in. of rainfall caused by a Peak river level stalled frontal system over northern Florida

(Bridges and Franklin, 1991), and discharges /s)

3 on the Suwannee River were greater than 100- 5,460 6,180 Peak (ft 10,900 14,200 17,100 41,500 11,100 year recurrence intervals (table 7). discharge Peaks from rainfall associated with Hurricane Ivan were observed in the discharge and river level hydrographs for several gages in Peak discharge, September 1-October 15, 2004 Date the western panhandle, including Yellow River, 9/19/2004 9/18/2004 9/17/2004 9/17/2004 9/18/2004 9/16/2004 9/18/2004 Blackwater River, Escambia River, Elevenmile

Creek, and Perdido River watersheds. The

peaks observed during Hurricane Ivan ranged

2004 from less than 5-year to less than10-year recur- record through Period of 1938-1993, 1996-2004 1938-2004 1950-1992, 1996-2004 1938-1979, 1980-1991, 1997-1999, 2000-2004 1934-2004 1987-2004 1941-2004 rence intervals. These peaks may be considered relatively minor when compared to the September 1998 flood, which was caused by Hurricane Georges. Hurricane Georges produced 10-20 in. of rain in the western panhandle, although some areas received up to 27 in. Precipitation produced by Hurricane Georges resulted in greater than 25-year to greater than 100-year recurrence interval discharges on the Yellow, Shoal, Blackwater, and Escambia Rivers (table 8). Streamflow-gaging station Yellow River at Milligan River Yellow near Crestview Shoal River near Baker River Blackwater Big Coldwater Creek near Milton Big Coldwater Escambia River near Century Escambia River Elevenmile Creek near Pensacola Elevenmile at Barrineau Park Perdido River Combined September and October Monthly Mean Discharges Station

number Combined monthly mean discharges for 02369000 02370000 02368000 02370500 02375500 02376115 02376500 September and October 2004 in several eastern

Peak discharges and river levels at selected sites in northwest Florida produced by Hurricane Ivan. Peak discharges and river levels at selected sites in northwest Florida produced by

panhandle watersheds ranged from 242 to 602 26 28 25 29 30 31 32 percent of the long term averages due to the Site (fig. 2) *Computed based on period-of-record peaks to water year 2004. *Computed based on period-of-record peaks to water number impacts of Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne. Table 8. Table Florida; river level, in feet, above NGVD 1929; ft [Data compiled from data on file at the U.S. Geological Survey in Tallahassee, 16 Hydrologic Effects of the 2004 Hurricane Season in Northwest Florida

Table 9. Relation of period-of-record September and October combined monthly mean discharge to combined mean discharge for September and October 2004, Big Bend.

3 02319000 Withlacoochee River near Pinetta 1931-2004 1620 9,760 602 5 02319500 Suwannee River at Ellaville 1927-2004 10,300 38,200 371 8 02320500 Suwannee River at Branford 1931-2004 11,600 42,300 365 9 02321000 New River near Lake Butler 1950-1971, 514 2,180 424 1990-2004

10 02321500 Santa Fe River at Worthington Springs 1931-2004 1250 4,800 384 12 02322500 Santa Fe River near Fort White 1927-1930, 3,720 9,000 242 1932-2004 16 02324000 Steinhatchee River near Cross City 1950-2004 792 2,510 317 17 02324400 Fenholloway River near Foley 1955-2004 101 453 449 18 02326000 Econfina River near Perry 1950-2004 261 827 317

Table 10. Relation of period-of-record September and October combined monthly mean discharge to combined mean discharge for September and October 2004, western panhandle.

Period of 2004 Period of record Site combined Station record combined Percent of number Streamflow-gaging station monthly mean number through monthly mean average (fig. 1) discharge 2004 discharge (ft3/s) (ft3/s) 25 02368000 Yellow River at Milligan 1938-1993, 1,580 3,780 239 1996-2004 26 02369000 Shoal River near Crestview 1938-2004 1,940 3,950 204 28 02370000 Blackwater River near Baker 1950-1992, 530 1,140 215 1996-2004 29 02370500 Big Coldwater Creek near Milton 1938-1979, 996 2,440 245 1980-1991, 1997-1999, 2000-2004 30 02375500 Escambia River near Century 1934-2004 6,320 18,300 290 31 02376115 Elevenmile Creek near Pensacola 1987-2004 210 348 166

32 02376500 Perdido River at Barrineau Park 1941-2004 1,280 2,530 198 References Cited 17

In the Suwannee River watershed, discharges averaged highest References Cited at the Withlacoochee River near Pinetta gage, and lowest at the Santa Fe River near Fort White gage (table 9). Due to the impacts of Hurricane Ivan, combined monthly Bridges, W.C., and Franklin, M.A., 1991 Florida floods and mean discharges for September and October 2004 in the droughts, in National Water Summary 1988-89—Floods western panhandle ranged from 166 to 290 percent of average and droughts: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Supply Paper in several watersheds, including the Yellow River, Blackwater 2375, p. 231-238. River, Escambia River, Elevenmile Creek and Perdido River Insurance Journal, 2004, At $22 Billion, Insured Losses from watersheds. The highest discharge occurred in the Escambia Four Florida Hurricanes Will Exceed Andrew’s Record: River watershed and the lowest in the Elevenmile Creek water- accessed May 19, 2005, at http://www.insurancejournal. shed (table 10). com/news/national/2004/10/01/46438.htm. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, [undated], Land Cover Analysis, Glossary of Land Cover Analysis Summary Terms: accessed June 29, 2005, at http://www.csc.noaa. gov/crs/lca/gloss.html. This report provides a comprehensive overview of the hydrologic effects of the 2004 hurricane season in northwest National Weather Service, 2004a, Tropical Cyclone Report: Florida, including rainfall totals for each storm, discharge accessed May 12, 2005, at http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/ comparisons, flood statistics, and river level data. Four out 2004bonnie.shtml. of the five tropical storm systems (Tropical Storm Bonnie and Hurricanes Frances, Ivan, and Jeanne) to make landfall in National Weather Service, 2004b, Tropical Cyclone Report: Florida resulted in abundant amounts of rainfall, storm surge, accessed May 12, 2005, at http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/ and flooding in the panhandle. The accumulated rainfall from 2004charley.shtml. Tropical Storm Bonnie and Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne in National Weather Service, 2004c, Tropical Cyclone Report: the Suwannee and Waccasassa River watersheds ranged from accessed May 12, 2005, at http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/ 15 to 18 inches. The western panhandle averaged 8 to 9 in. of 2004frances.shtml. rainfall associated with Hurricane Ivan. The second highest discharge measurement at National Weather Service, 2004d, Tropical Cyclone Report: Waccasassa River near Gulf Hammock was made by USGS accessed May 12, 2005, at http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/ personnel, which helped refine the rating at that level. After 2004ivan.shtml. statistical analyses were completed, it was determined that the flood at that location was a greater than 25-year recur- National Weather Service, 2004e, Tropical Cyclone Report: rence interval. Overall, flooding in the Suwannee River accessed May 12, 2005, at http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/ watershed during the 2004 hurricane season consisted of 2004jeanne.shtml. less than 25-year recurrence intervals, which is considered St. Petersburg Times, 2005, Get Ready: Hurricane season relatively minor when compared to the much larger flood of begins June 1, yet a new poll shows that an alarming 1948 (greater than 100-year recurrence intervals). Likewise, number of Floridians are woefully unprepared: accessed the flooding in the western panhandle is considered relatively May 13, 2005, at http://www.sptimes.com/2005/05/13/ minor (less than 10-year recurrence intervals) when compared Opinion/Get_ready.shtml. to the flood of September 1998 (greater than 25-year to greater than 100-year recurrence intervals). U.S. Geological Survey, 2004, Water Resources Data, Florida, Water Year 2004, Volume 4. Northwest Florida Water: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Data Report FL-04-4. 18 Hydrologic Effects of the 2004 Hurricane Season in Northwest Florida

Photograph of County Road 232 in Gilchrist County, Florida near State Road 47 (September 18, 2004) after Hurricane Frances. Incidentally this area/road was still flooded (but passable) in February 2005! Image courtesy of Bob Kerns of the National Weather Service.